Coated photographic papers

Abstract

A process which comprises forming an image on a substrate, and developing the image with toner, and wherein the substrate contains a coating of a polyester and there is enabled images of high uniform gloss.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A photopaper comprising: 
       a substrate; and  
       a thin polyester coating over the substrate,  
       wherein the photopaper enables the generation of toner images with a substantially uniform gloss throughout the images on the coating.  
     
     
       2. The photopaper of claim  1 , wherein the substrate comprises a cellulosic material. 
     
     
       3. The photopaper of claim  1 , wherein the coating has a thickness of about 1 micron to about 15 microns. 
     
     
       4. The photopaper of claim  3 , wherein the images have a gloss value between about 50 GU to about 100 GU as measured by a 75° Glossmeter. 
     
     
       5. The photopaper of claim  3 , further comprising toner embedded below an outer surface of the coating. 
     
     
       6. The photopaper of claim  1 , wherein the images have a gloss value between about 50 GU to about 100 GU. 
     
     
       7. The photopaper of claim  1 , further comprising a toner image formed on the coating. 
     
     
       8. The photopaper of claim  7 , wherein the coating has a thickness of about 1 micron to about 15 microns. 
     
     
       9. The photopaper of claim  8 , wherein the image has a gloss value between about 50 GU to about 100 GU as measured by a 75° Glossmeter. 
     
     
       10. The photopaper of claim  7 , wherein the image has a gloss value between about 50 GU to about 100 GU as measured by a 75° Glossmeter. 
     
     
       11. The photopaper of claim  7 , wherein the images are developed on the photopaper with a toner comprising a resin, and the polyester has a lower melt viscosity than the resin at temperatures sufficient to fuse the image. 
     
     
       12. The photopaper of claim  11 , wherein the coating has a thickness of about 1 micron to about 15 microns. 
     
     
       13. The photopaper of claim  12 , wherein the image has a gloss value between about 50 GU to about 100 GU as measured by a 75° Glossmeter. 
     
     
       14. The photopaper of claim  11 , wherein the image has a gloss value between about 50 GU to about 100 GU as measured by a 75° Glossmeter. 
     
     
       15. The photopaper of claim  1 , further comprising toner embedded below an outer surface of the coating. 
     
     
       16. A process comprising: 
       providing a photopaper according to claim  1 ;  
       forming an image on the polyester coating;  
       developing the image with toner; and  
       applying only heat and pressure to the developed image to form an image having a substantially uniform gloss throughout the image on the substrate.  
     
     
       17. The process of claim  16 , wherein the coating has a thickness of about 2 micron to about 15 microns. 
     
     
       18. The process of claim  16 , wherein the image has a gloss value between about 50 GU to about 100 GU as measured by a 75° Glossmeter. 
     
     
       19. The process of claim  16 , wherein the toner comprises a resin, and the polyester has a lower melt viscosity than the resin at temperatures sufficient to fuse the image. 
     
     
       20. The process of claim  16 , wherein: 
       the image is a latent image electrostatically formed on an imaging member;  
       the latent image is developed with the toner; and  
       the developed image is transferred to the substrate.  
     
     
       21. The process of claim  16 , wherein the image is formed and developed on the substrate. 
     
     
       22. The process of claim  16 , wherein the toner is absorbed into the coating. 
     
     
       23. A process comprising: 
       providing a photopaper according to claim  1 ;  
       forming an image on the polyester coating;  
       developing the image with toner; and  
       applying only heat and pressure to the substrate to sink the toner below a surface of the polyester coating:  
       wherein the image has a substantially uniform gloss throughout the image; and a high gloss value.  
     
     
       24. The process of claim  23 , wherein the polyester coating has a thickness of about 1 micron to about 15 microns. 
     
     
       25. The process of claim  23 , wherein the image has a gloss value between about 50 GU to about 100 GU as measured by a 75° Glossmeter. 
     
     
       26. An electrostatic process comprising: 
       providing a photopaper according to claim  1 ;  
       electrostatically forming an image on the polyester coating;  
       subsequently developing the image and  
       applying only heat and pressure to the substrate to absorb toner into the polyester coating;  
       wherein the image has a substantially uniform gloss throughout the image and a high gloss value.  
     
     
       27. The process of claim  26 , wherein the polyester coating has a thickness of about 1 micron to about 15 microns. 
     
     
       28. The process of claim  26 , wherein the image has a gloss value between about 50 GU to about 100 GU as measured by a 75° Glossmeter. 
     
     
       29. A process comprising: 
       providing a photopaper according to claim  1 ;  
       forming an image on the polyester coating;  
       developing the image with toner;  
       heating the polyester coating; and  
       absorbing the toner into the heated polyester coating without applying an electric field to the toner;  
       wherein the image has a substantially uniform gloss throughout the image and a high gloss value.  
     
     
       30. The process of claim  29 , wherein the polyester coating has a thickness of about 1 micron to about 15 microns. 
     
     
       31. The process of claim  29 , wherein the image has a gloss value between about 50 GU to about 100 GU as measured by a 75° Glossmeter. 
     
     
       32. A photopaper comprising: 
       a substrate; and  
       a thin polyester coating over the substrate,  
       wherein the photopaper enables the generation of toner images with a gloss similar to silver halide photos on the coating.  
     
     
       33. A photopaper comprising: 
       a substrate; and  
       a polymer coating over the substrate, the coating having an outer surface;  
       wherein a toner is embedded in the polymer coating below the surface to form an image having a uniform gloss.  
     
     
       34. The photopaper of claim  33 , wherein the polymer coating is formed directly on the substrate, and the photopaper consists essentially of the substrate and polymer coating. 
     
     
       35. A photopaper comprising: 
       a substrate; and  
       a polyester coating over the substrate, the polyester coating having an outer surface and a thickness of about 1 micron to about 15 microns;  
       wherein a toner is embedded in the polyester coating below the outer surface to form an image, the image has a gloss value between about 50 GU to about 100 GU as measured by a 75° Glossmeter, and the gloss of the image is substantially uniform throughout the image.  
     
     
       36. The photopaper of claim  35 , wherein the polyester coating is formed directly on the substrate, and the photopaper consists essentially of the substrate and polyester coating. 
     
     
       37. A photopaper comprising: 
       a substrate; and  
       a polyester coating over the substrate, the polyester coating having an outer surface;  
       wherein a toner is embedded in the coating below the outer surface to form an image, the toner comprises a resin and the polyester has a lower melt viscosity than the resin at temperatures sufficient to fuse the image, and the image has a gloss that is substantially uniform throughout the image.  
     
     
       38. The photopaper of claim  37 , wherein the polyester coating is formed directly on the substrate, and the photopaper consists essentially of the substrate and polyester coating. 
     
     
       39. A photopaper comprising: 
       a substrate; and  
       a polyester coating over the substrate, the polyester coating having an outer surface;  
       wherein a toner is embedded in the coating below the outer surface by applying heat and pressure to the polyester coating to form an image, the toner comprises a resin and the polyester has a lower melt viscosity than the resin at temperatures sufficient to fuse the image, and the image has a gloss that is substantially uniform throughout the image.  
     
     
       40. The photopaper of claim  39 , wherein the polyester coating is formed directly on the substrate, and the photopaper consists essentially of the substrate and polyester coating.